Safety-shoe for ladders



H. W. FIES.

SAFETY SHOE FOR LADDERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1920.

1,37 9,808. fatnped May 31, 1921.

iL/MWL STATS HERBERT W. FIES, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MAX L. JEFFREY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SAFETY-SHOE FOR LADDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed July 2, 1920. Serial No. 393,510.

and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety-Shoes" for Ladders, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish 'itfrom other inventions.

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to safety shoes for ladders and the like, is directed to an improved support or shoe to receive the lower end of a ladder or similar device fior maintaining the same against movement over the floor when in use. One of the chief objects of the invention is the provision of a device of a simple,'inexpensive character which may safely be used to fasten the lower end of a ladder against accidental movement along a floor. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

if said annexed drawing 1 the adder in an incline position and mounted upon my improved shoe; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a shoe showing the ladder supported thereon; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the shoe; and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a ladder of common construction, consisting of parallel members 1 and rungs 2. In using such ladders in factories where the floors are of concrete or similar material many accidents have occurred due to the fact that the ends 3 of the ladder are likely to slip along the floor and allow the ladder to fall, there being no secure engagement between the ends of the ladder and the floor.

My improved shoe consists of a member 4 which is provided with a horizontal portion re 1 is a view in pers ective, showing or plate 5 having upturned parallel sides 6 and downturned lugs or projections 7, which are preferably stamped out from the body of the plate 5. Each of the upstanding portions 6 is provided with an opening 8 therethrough, adapted to receive a bolt 9, and these portions 6 are so spaced as to receive therebetween one of the ends 3 of the ladder, which must also be provided with a suitable opening to receive the bolt 9.

The engagement between the bolt 9 and ladder ends 3, should obviously be suiiiclently' free to allow of pivotal movement of the ladder to accommodate it to various inclined positions.

In use, each end 3 of the ladder is mounted in one of the shoes 4 and is secured thereto by means of the bolts 9. When placed in position the triangular sharpened engaging ugs 7 on the lower side of the plate engage against the floor and grip the same sufficiently tov prevent accidental movement of the ladder under ordinary conditions of use. The present device can be formed entirely from sheet metal, the upturned end portions or flanges being pressed up from a flat sheet, while the engaging lugs can be stamped out in the same manner. The cost of manufacturing the shoe is therefore relatively very little, and a very strong shoe can be. made in this way; at.an extremely low cost. A further advantage of the device is that it is relatively light, as distinguished from other shoes which'are sometimes used and which are formed of heavy castings, and

it therefore adds but little to the weight of.

the ladder and allows the same to be readily moved from place to place.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed. instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention A shoe for ladders and the like, comprising a sheet'metal member of uniform thick- I ness provided with a series of f itegral gripping elements formed at each of its end portions and bent downwardly therefrom, a series of gripping elements located centrall v flanges on opposite sides of said member Lemeee I formed from the edge ortione of the mete member, said flanges emg adapted to re movably receive the base of the ladder there it) between.

Signed by me, this 28 day of June, 1920.

HERBERT W. FEES. V i 

